Chapter 3

Adlerian Therapy

Adlerian Theory Also known as individual psychology. Based on the common sense approach of

Alfred Adler.

Alfred Adler Was invited to join Freud’s Vienna

Psychoanalytic Society in 1902 where he quickly gained prominence.

Stressed the importance of subjective feelings rather than biological drives.

Established the Society of Individual Psychology.

Major Tenets of Adlerian Theory Conscious aspects of behavior, rather than

the unconscious, are central to the development of personality.

Belief that individuals are goal-directed and purposeful.

Each person strives for growth and has a need for wholeness.

Inferiority and Superiority Complexes There is a tendency for each person to feel

inferior to others initially. If not resolved, the person develops an inferiority complex.

In contrast, a person who overcompensates for feelings of inferiority may develop a superiority complex, or what Adler terms a neurotic fiction.

Birth Order Considerable emphasis is placed on birth order. Those who share ordinal birth positions may have

more in common than siblings. 5 ordinal positions are emphasized:

firstborns secondborns middle children youngest children only children

Firstborns They are socialized to conform, achieve,

behave, and please. Take responsibility when parents are

absent and often act as parent-substitutes. Experience the loss of their unique position

when a second child is born. This experience sometimes leads to

resentment.

Secondborns An enviable position according to Adler. Never have to worry about issues of power and

authority because their position will never change.

Usually are more outgoing, carefree, and creative and less concerned with rules than firstborns.

Likely to be just the opposite of their older sibling.

Middle Children These children often feel “squeezed in”

and treated unfairly. Learn a great deal about family politics and

the art of negotiation. These skills prove useful for manipulating

events to get what they want and choosing areas where they can be successful.

Youngest Children Receive a great deal of attention from others, who

are likely to cater to their needs. May become “charmers”, but may also have

difficulty breaking out of the role of “the baby” or “family pet.”

Face the danger of becoming spoiled. May also make great strides in achieving because

of role models provided by older siblings.

Only Child Any child born more than seven years or more

apart from siblings is psychologically an only child.

These children are never dethroned and are at an advantage in receiving a great deal of attention.

May mature early and become high-achievers. May develop rich imaginations because of the

amount of time they spend alone. May also become pampered, selfish, and not

well-socialized.

Lifestyle Creation Adlerian theory stresses that by age 5, each

person creates a style of life, or lifestyle. Gained primarily through interacting with other

members of the family. A healthy lifestyle focuses on main tasks:

Society Work Sexuality

Two other challenges include spirituality and coping with self.

Basic Mistakes Caused by Fictions

Fictions – subjective evaluations of themselves and their environments.

Overgeneralizing False or impossible goals of security Misperceptions of life and life’s demands Minimization or denial of one’s worth Faulty values

Roles of the Counselor/Therapist Function as a diagnostician, teacher, and

model for the client. Make an assessment by gathering

information on the family constellation and client’s earliest memories.

Assign clients homework. Make little use of assessment techniques.

Goal Help clients to develop healthy,

holistic lifestyles.

Process and Techniques Establishing a relationship. Performing analysis and assessment. Promoting insight. Reorientation.

Establishing a Relationship Crucial if goals are to be achieved. Counseling is seen as a collaborative effort. Actively listen and respond. Focus on clients’ strengths. Employ confrontation when necessary to

point out clients’ inconsistencies. Maintain a flexible interaction process and

stress clients’ responsibilities.

Performing Analysis and Assessment Concentrate on an analysis of clients’ lifestyles

including family constellations, dreams, early memories, priorities, and ways of responding.

Encourage clients to recall early memories and examine for specific themes and specific details.

Adlerian theory holds that dreams are a possible rehearsal for future courses of action.

Lifestyle priorities and ways of responding are challenged.

Promoting Insight Help clients develop insight through open-ended

questions and making interpretations. Interpretation often takes the form of intuitive guesses. May be based on family ordinal position and family

constellations. Clients are never forced to accept the counselor’s point of

view. Empathy – the ability to feel what it is like to be the client

before “zeroing” in on the present behaviors.

Reorientation Confrontation Asking “the question” Encouragement Acting “as if” “Spitting in the client’s soup” Catching oneself Task setting Push button

Multicultural and Gender Sensitive Issues

Well-suited for use in multicultural and gender-sensitive issues.

Emphasizes that individuals need to extend themselves beyond their family to be healthy.

Such a stretch often means learning about and understanding different cultural groups.

Sensitive to equality issues between the sexes.

Strengths and Contributions Fosters an equalitarian atmosphere. Versatile over the lifespan. Useful in the treatment of a variety of disorders. Contribution to other theories and to the public’s

knowledge and understanding of human interactions.

Can be employed selectively in different cultural groups.

Limitations and Criticisms Lack of a firm, supportive research base. Vague in regard to some terms, concepts, and

ideas. May be too optimistic about human nature. If basic principles cannot be followed, the impact

of the theory may be lessened. Relies heavily on verbal erudition, logic, and

insight and may be limited in its applicability to clients who are not intellectually bright.

The Case of Linda: Adlerian Therapy How would you conceptualize this case using

Adlerian therapy?

What would be your treatment plan for this client using an Adlerian approach?